On this day we shot our Memorial Day special on “The Italian Campaign” and the Nazi Occupation of Rome. Here are some images of the team from yesterday.

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 29, 2011 | Permalink

It all began as a simple—well, not so simple, but really exciting—- start to the 2011 European Faith and Freedom Tour and our A Final Farewell celebration in Normandy with the last living veterans of Normandy’s D-Day celebration.

72 hours later we had moved from terminal to terminal, and airport to airport, being jostled around, sleeping on the ground, and unable to leave the country. Here is the report from Virginia Hope Phillips

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 29, 2011 | Permalink

Some of my close associates at Vision Forum have been actively involved in a battle to pass legislation to curtail TSA abuse at airports in Texas.

Yesterday, the unthinkable happened. Agents of the Federal Government descended on the Capitol in Austin to threaten the people of Texas. Their threat: Enact H.B. 1937 — a bill to forbid TSA agents from touching travelers’ private parts without probable cause — and Washington will close down flights to and from Texas airports.

WorldNetDaily describes more of the details in this article, “Feds to Texas: We’ll make you a ‘no-fly’ zone”.

Read Wesley Strackbein’s Open Letter to Gov. Rick Perry here.

Here also are attorney Don Hart’s thoughts on what has transpired:

Texas Senate Bill 1937 unanimously passed the House and had commitments of support from 30 of 31 Texas Senators late last night.

The bill makes it a crime for a TSA agent to touch the private parts of any Texan seeking to engage in air travel or enter a public building absent a showing that such a personal invasion is constitutional.

Less than an hour before the bill came before the house for a vote, the Department of Justice wrote to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, members of the Senate and other leaders threatening, among other things, to in all likelihood shut down all air travel through Texas if the bill passed.

Department of Justice Letter

In apparent confusion and panic, Senators’ commitments to support the bill were pulled down and the bill was withdrawn.

While the bill provides an “out” from criminal prosecution if the TSA can show that its warrantless actions absent probable cause are constitutional, the DOJ letter erroneously claims the law violates the Supremacy Clause. While the Supremacy Clause protects actions of the Federal Government which are constitutional, it does not make everything the Federal Government does constitutional. There is quite a difference, and this bill would require TSA to show that their actions are lawful under the constitution.

Texas leaders are meeting today to consider their positions.

The author of the bill and its sponsor in the Texas House, posted the following on his blog this morning:

David Simpson’s Blog

In a time when the country is desperate for principled leadership, Rep. David Simpson is a breath of fresh air, to say the least.

Texans who care about standing for the rights of Texans and responding courageously to unconstitutional threats and intimidation tactics need to strongly consider calling their Governor, Lieutenant Governor and State Senators to encourage them to do just that.

It will indeed be a sad day for Texas if her Senate, Governor and Lieutenant Governor abandon the best interests of her citizens and scatter like quail in the face of an erroneously reasoned letter from a Department of Justice lawyer — especially on a bill which has passed the house unanimously and had the support of 30 of 31 Senators before the arrival of such a letter.

I certainly hope our leaders have more resolve to stand for what they considered in the best interest of Texans and were prepared to support mere minutes before a shot was fired across their bow.

For those interested, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst contact information is:

512-463-0001. david.dewhurst@ltgov.state.tx.us

He blogged earlier this month about standing for Texas and the 10th Amendment:

Dewhurst Blog

He and Rick Perry stood together on this issue:

Perry Press Release

Rick Perry’s contact information is:

512-463-2000 E-mail: http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/assistance.aspx

Texans need to be heard on this.

It might also be helpful if other Americans encouraged leaders in Texas to do the right thing, also. I believe it will inure to the benefit of all who love their country.

Don Hart, Esq.

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 25, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 23, 2011 | Permalink

Now Christian families and students can study the most important battle of the most important war of the 21st century from a distinctively Christian perspective with D-Day and the Providence of God. Sign up today to get broadcasts and field reports from Rome, France and Normandy, as you prepare for seven rich episodes that tell the story of the great efforts of our heroic fathers to save Western Christian civilization from the tyranny of Nazism, Fascism and despotism.

Visit afinalfarewell.org for more information.

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 22, 2011 | Permalink

Over the last few weeks the heart of the home schooling community has been turned to the tragedy of the Lee family and others home educating families who became victims of the great alabama Tornado disaster. It was late in the night when I first received a report that in a great act of heroism, Mr. Lee had given his life defending protecting his wife children, all thirteen of whom were spared. (You can read my report here.) Within minutes a wonderful network of friends was organized to get teams to travel through the night to help the Lees and other disaster victims. One of the leaders in this effort was my former personal assistant Peter Bradrick who not only was able to dispatch men to the field but to raise more than $90,000 for disaster relief efforts for the victim families.

Other key players in this effort are Cody Carnett and Bob Welch. Cody is son-in-law to Bob, and Bob is my good friend and the elder of a congregation in Fredericksburg, Texas. Bob has a home which is right by the Lee family’s home and was in the path of destruction, but largely spared from significant damage. Bob and Cody are now hard at work assisting their good friends in Alabama through a significant and vitally important relief effort. Tonight and tomorrow they are sponsoring a benefit concert to help the Lee family. Like some of you who live out of town, the Phillips’ will not be able to attend physically because I will be ministering at the FEAST conference and preparing my own team for our departure to Europe and Normandy with our A Final Farewell, but we will be writing a check. If you can come, please do so. If not, join me in writing a check. Imagine how much it would mean to you if your home were destroyed and you found yourself without a father. Thanks for your consideration.

Here is the letter I received from Cody which I am posting for your benefit:

Benefit Concert for the Tom Lee family of Shoal Creek Valley, Alabama

Thursday, May 19 at High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin Friday May 20 at Fredericksburg Christian Fellowship

www.HelptheLees.com

Dear Mr. Phillips,

As you well know, last week was a devastating time for many in our country, as the tornadoes in the South reeked havoc upon the landscape and caused great amounts of grieving over the loss of loved ones, homes, hopes and dreams.

Not all has been lost; the body of Christ has shown itself to be alive, strong and resilient, as many have stepped up around the nation to come to the aid of those in need. It has been a time of sadness but also a terrific time of opportunity to serve and show love. An opportunity that the body of Christ has seized and used for the glory of God.

One of the families that was most effected by the tornadoes was the Lee family in Shoal Creek Valley, Alabama. Not only did they lose their home, they also lost their father and husband as Tom Lee died serving those God had entrusted to him... God has raised up an army of volunteers in the Alabama area who have been able to come along side the family and support them in many unique and wonderful ways. However, many around the nation, who are unable to assist them with the physical cleanup and rebuilding of their home, have been left with the question, “What can we do?!”

This Thursday, May 19 and Friday, May 20, 2011, there will be a benefit concert and silent auction to raise funds for the rebuilding of the Lee family home. Thursdays concert will be held in Austin and Fridays concert will be held at Fredericksburg Christian Fellowship. We are unable to go and help, but we can give out of the blessings that God has provided to each of our families. The concert is not a memorial to Tom Lee, but rather a celebration of the strength, power and majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ. A celebration of the sovereign hand by which He guides all things for His glory and the good of those who love Him and keep His commandments. A celebration of the strength of the body of Christ that is alive and well in this country. We endeavor to honor Tom Lee and the legacy that he has left behind in his wife and children but in a manner that will incite hope and excitement in those who would desire to help the family.

If you go to www.HelptheLees.com you will find all the particular details about these events as well as more information about the Lee family and their efforts to rebuild.

God bless you. Thank you for you time. Give our love to your family.

In Christ,

Cody Carnett

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 19, 2011 | Permalink

Enjoy 25% savings on each Lamplighter Theatre Radio Drama Collection through May 23.

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 19, 2011 | Permalink

I hope you will consider signing up today!

D-Day and the Providence of God:The Virtual Tour and Online Study Course

This year, many of the last living survivors of the greatest amphibious invasion history will be returning to Normandy for the final time. As they return, Vision Forum Ministries’ camera team will be there. Our team of Christian historians will be there as well, together with families who want to honor our World War II veterans with a “Final Farwell” celebration—all part of a significant effort to produce a virtual tour and study course from Normandy about the Battle of D-Day, perhaps the very first of its kind that is specifically designed to give a providential Christian perspective on the men and events that were used by God in June of 1944 to change the course of the 20th century. Today I want to invite you to join us on this unprecedented Christian overview of “the longest day,” by signing up for “D-Day and the Providence of God: The Virtual Tour and Online Study Course.” As a subscriber, you will receive in-the-field reports from the ground in Europe, special bonus features, and seven power-packed teaching episodes from Normandy, London, Paris, and Rome which cover the following topics:

In Episode 1, we learn that the Second World War, and D-Day itself, occurred in a broader context than simply a great military conflict, as did the philosophies, alliances, rules of engagement, and military and political decisions that drove the war and its many battles. Adolf Hitler and his worldview (though taken to a horrific extreme) were ultimately an extension of key religious commitments which came to define the modern world in the 20th century. Winston Churchill represented very different commitments, those which emerged from an ancient order associated with the ethics of Christendom. In the end, the Second World War and the 20th century itself must be evaluated on the basis of the theology which drove the men and movements of that time.

In Episode 2, we will study the foolishness of appeasement in the context of the conquest of Europe by Hitler, and seek to understand the providential meaning and relationship of the Allies’ early defeats at Dunkirk and Dieppe to their ultimate success on D-Day. Our strategic overview will take us from the Battle of Britain to the introduction of the United States into the War after Pearl Harbor, to North Africa/Sicily, and ultimately to the foundations of D-Day.

Episode 3 presents a fascinating study of a biblical perspective on leadership during the Second World War. We will examine the character and leadership skills of eight key decision-makers in the European theater of war— President Roosevelt, General Eisenhower, General Bradley, General Patton, Winston Churchill, General Montgomery, General Rommel, and Adolf Hitler. We will note the differences between bold confidence in a holy outcome and leading through courage and trust, and leadership styles which are dependent on fear and intimidation. And we will see how all of these issues were decisive in Normandy on June 6, 1944 as D-Day operations commenced.

Episode 4 evaluates the ethics of spying in wartime and the specific operations of Allied forces to confuse the enemy. Special emphasis is placed on the “ultra secret” and the many remarkable providences of God in concealing the efforts of the Allies during D-Day. We will also examine General Patton’s shadow army and the true story of the courageous French underground resistance.

Episode 5 focuses on one of the most compelling elements of the D-Day story: the decision to go. Here we understand both the power of the Lord to control weather and direct the course of human events, and the unique preparation of General Eisenhower for this one moment in time. Also, from a providential, historical perspective, the decision to go takes place in the context of an amazing series of events within the camp of the enemy, including mistakes, decisions and indecisions, and confused reports, and the handicapping of Rommel’s efforts by the high command.

Episode 6 turns our attention to the men of D-Day. Here we begin to understand important lessons about manhood and courage as we look at the sacrifice of the U. S. Infantry on Utah Beach with the 4th Division, and the 1st and 29th Divisions on Omaha Beach; the British Infantry’s sacrifice on Gold Beach with its 50th Division, Sword Beach with its 3rd Division, and Juno Beach with its 3rd Division; and the Canadians’ sacrifice with its 82nd & 101st Airborne Divisions. We will remember the story of the Bedford Boys, the Band of Brothers, and Medal of Honor recipients, and the stories of Ted Roosevelt, Jr., Carleton Barrett, Jimmy Montieth, Jr., John J. Pinder, Jr., and, of course, the Rangers of Pont du Hoc.

Episode 7, our final episode, offers a Christian perspective on the aftermath of D-Day. We will consider the cost of D-Day and its meaning, the Hedgerows, Contentin, Falaise Pocket, and Breakout. Most importantly, we will answer these questions: What duties have we inherited from the men of D-Day; why must we remember D-Day and the men of D-Day; and what additional lessons can we learn as we look back nearly seventy years to this battle?

Sign Up for the Course!

Sign up for the “D-Day and the Providence of God: The Virtual Tour and Online Course,” our newest tour designed for Christian families, home educators, Christian students, and people just interested in an exciting and inspirational learning experience. The price is $59, which gives you access to video field reports from Europe and our “A Final Farewell” celebration, our special bonus series on “Food as Culture: A Look at the Gastronomy of Europe,” and of course, our seven online episodes from D-Day and the Providence of God, complete with study questions and a downloadable certificate of completion.

Bonus #1: Subscribe Now and Get Video Field Reports from Europe, Including Our “A Final Farewell” Tour and Celebration.

As part of your subscription, we are pleased to send you field reports from Italy, France, and Scotland that relate important stories and information relevant to the broader study of the Second World War, Christianity, and the history of Europe.

Bonus #2: Special Reports on Christianity and Culture

As a special bonus, all subscribers to D-Day and the Providence of God will also receive access to a series of short film treatments we will be shooting in Rome, Paris, London, and Edinburgh on these subjects related to issues of Christianity and culture:

Field Reports, Bonus Features, and Episode Broadcasts

Watch your first field report on “The Italian Campaign and the Liberation of Rome” from Rome on Memorial Day—Monday, May 30. Over the following three weeks you will receive periodic field reports and bonus features, including our series of film shorts such as “Food as Culture: The Gastronomy of Europe.” Also, join us on June 6 (the anniversary of D-Day) and June 7 for a very special field report on our “A Final Farewell” celebration. This will be a wonderful way to have exclusive access to our event in Normandy and to experience the pageantry, interviews, the emotions, and the power of a unique moment in the history of our country—a final farewell to our last living D-Day veterans.

Our seven “D-Day and the Providence of God” episodes will begin broadcasting on Tuesday, June 28 at 7:00 p.m. (CDT), and will continue at that same time on Tuesday nights for the following six weeks. Don’t worry if you miss an episode—you will have access to each episode via our online archives.

Check our website, www.afinalfarewell.org, for continuing updates and schedules. Registration is now open!

*Vision Forum Ministries is a 501(c)3 Christian ministry. Any amount you pledge to our Kickstarter project that is over and above the retail value of the rewards you receive in return is tax-deductible.

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 6, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 6, 2011 | Permalink

On behalf of the families of Vision Forum Ministries, our World War II veterans, and everyone involved in “Normandy: A Final Farewell” and The Faith of Our Fathers Project, I want to express my deep gratitude for the blessing of God on our successful Kickstarter campaign.

I am very grateful for each of you who contributed to help make this campaign a success. At the time I am writing this, we have about 60 hours remaining before the cutoff time for making pledges to our Kickstarter campaign. And, as we said at the beginning of this effort, the $50,000 we hoped to raise was a minimal threshold amount that would allow us to just reach our mission goal, but that additional resources would allow us to accomplish more and to complete “A Final Farewell” to our heroes with even greater excellence. Specifically, we are now praying that over the next 60 hours the Lord will allow us to bring in an additional $10,000-$15,000 through our Kickstarter campaign.

With this additional money we can cover the cost of taking more veterans with us to Normandy (and add on to our original budget), and we can cover other necessary items such as bringing medical support staff for these men. We can also build out our camera team, which will help us to make sure that we are able to maximize and capture every moment of this opportunity to tell the story of the heroic men who fought for liberty almost 70 years ago.

With 60 hours left, would you consider encouraging others who may be new to Kickstarter to support this important project?

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 5, 2011 | Permalink

One of the veterans returning with us to Normandy for our “A Final Farewell” participated in a whopping nine invasion campaigns. (We are trying to determine if this is some sort of a record.) He, like many other G.I’s during the Second World War, left the comforts of home for the hardships of war.

And a lot happened while they were away. While they were away men weekly called for the mercy and protection of the Lord from pulpits across the nation. While they were away, God continued to bless our industry and farming such that the people of America were able to help the people of Great Britain stay alive with food supplies. While they were away some of the most memorable films in history were made. While they were away Norman Rockwell used illustrations to reminded Americans of core values.

And while they were away, their children grew up, their sweethearts wept, their mothers prayed, and life continued—because they made the sacrifice to be away.

Now, for the last time, some of these men leave the comforts of home to return to the battlefields of their youth. Many others who cannot return will be watching the return of their brothers for “A Final Farewell” through the innovative technologies of a new century seemingly far removed from the War years of the 1940’s.

And for one last time we want to honor them, to hear their stories, to bless them and to let them know that WE KNOW that we would not be here without them.

We also want to remind them of the world that they missed—the world of home life and culture in America. We want them to be reminded about all that they were fighting for and dreaming about back in the States while they were surviving overseas on C-rations and living in foxholes.

And that is why the team with Vision Forum Ministries and The Faith of Our Fathers Project has recruited some of the young talent on our to create a special gift for the last living WWII veterans going back to Normandy and around the nation. It is called “While You Were Away,” and it is a special film short tribute that tells the story of life on the home front while the men were away.

The film which includes memorable newsreels, and vintage film clips from the era, is told in the context of the story of a young bride writing to her very own soldier abroad.

Joshua Phillips portrays the soldier.

With just three days left in our Kickstarter campaign we are especially grateful for your continued prayers and support on this and every aspect of our “A Final Farewell.”

To learn how you can play an important role in making this event possible, please visit our Normandy: A Final Farewell project page on Kickstarter. There you will learn about our specific needs for the project, as well as the unique rewards we are offering to those who help us honor our last living World War II heroes this D-Day.

Help Us Honor World War II’s Last Living Heroes

To visit our official Normandy: A Final Farewell website, click here.

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 4, 2011 | Permalink

Here in San Antonio, the trio of young ladies pictured above are practicing their “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and vintage ballads of the 1940s as a musical treat for the boys who stormed the Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches in Normandy.

Their preparation is part of a grand Christian celebration of honor and gratitude to the last living men of World War II, a special event that will take place in Normandy on June 4-6, 2011. This event is also for all those across America who cannot join us, but who we hope to encourage and bless through our video coverage. There will be tributes, stories, special performances, and celebrations — all part of what we believe will be the very last opportunity in history to honor living D-Day heroes from the very locations where they made history by rescuing Western Civilization from the oppression of Nazism.

These three ladies (pictured in our banner) — presently called “The San Antonio Darlings” — are just one of our teams preparing for the event. The wonderful Allen Sisters of North Carolina (pictured below) are tuning their voices to remind our returning heroes of “The White Cliffs of Dover” and that “the Lord was on our side” as they came in on a “Wing and a Prayer.”

In other parts of the country, our fabulous team of military history reenactors is getting its gear together to present living histories and to recreate on film the great military operations of Easy Company maneuvering through the Normandy countryside.

Back in Texas, teams of ladies are designing truly awe-inspiring, handmade awards to be given to our veterans, as well as “The Lafayette Peace Prize” to honor some remarkable heroes, including French men and women of Normandy whose sacrifice has contributed to greater honor and peace between our nations, and who have worked to preserve the legacy of the Normandy heroes.

And thanks to the efforts of some very industrious and creative ladies running our decoration committees, French officials, local French Normandy survivors, and American veterans will be treated to an amazing visual sight that includes banners hanging from the ceiling of a beautiful, ancient manor house, the foundations of which date back to 10th-century France. These banners include giant images of some of our returning veterans, Scripture verses, and great quotes from Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and others.

Of course, we are especially excited about the powerful biblical and evangelical witness which will be shared through our Sunday worship service and our celebration events with the Americans and the French. (Keep in mind that less than 3% of the French people profess to be Christian today.)

But none of this, or our film project, will come to fruition if we are not successful with our Kickstarter campaign. So I am asking you to help me rally the troops and to get Chattanooga Choo Choo into the station!

Just Five Days Left on Kickstarter to Make Or Break “A Final Farewell” To Our Last Living D-Day Veterans

We are now five days away from our Kickstarter campaign’s ending date, and the pressure is mounting. As of right now, we are 67% funded. If we do not raise the entire amount by the deadline, we will lose every dollar pledged thus far. Without success here, we do not know how we can complete this important project of honor. Would you consider getting the word out to everyone you know? If you have not yet supported our efforts yourself, would you consider doing so?

To see our Kickstarter video, or to read about our campaign, visit our “Normandy: A Final Farewell” Kickstarter project page.

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful letters of support and encouragement.

Persevero, Doug

P.S. Remember that those who partner with us by making a very generous donation of $500 or more will be eligible to have a special short film clip made for them honoring the WWII veteran of their choice, which includes thanking the veteran by name while standing on one of the Normandy beaches as part of a short video tribute to our veterans (this tribute is separate from the “Normandy: A Final Farewell” DVD). This is your opportunity to have your own family member or friend from the Second World War recognized with a personalized tribute on film from Normandy. You will receive a copy of this personalized video tribute on DVD.

P.P.S. Read about some of the veterans who will be joining us by going to www.afinalfarewell.org.

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 2, 2011 | Permalink

Posted by Doug Phillips on May 1, 2011 | Permalink